*11JJ11 quietly steps in, drops off the chapter, the Q&A, and a list of excuses for not updating, then runs the other way as quickly as she can.*
The League: What are the standard benefits the League provides? Like supplies for new trainers, are trainers hospital visits paid for, what sorts of health care is provided for Pokemon, burial policies, stuff like that? What is the standard duty of the Pokemon League, and what about trainer-non trainer relations? Are there ever any protests about pokemon training, do you have to release propaganda and such to help calm people down and help get your laws safely passed?
Lance: "All health care is free for any Pokemon, captured or wild, and health care is free for any humans. There are starter trainer kits available for new trainers, other supplies must be bought though. The League is the main form of government on a regional basis, and we function under the Pokemon Master and the International Police. We mostly deal with Pokemon related issues, concerning gyms, Pokemon Centers, and similar things. Local law enforcement, like the Officer Jennys, deal with other issues, like thieves. There are very few people that aren't licensed as trainers, though not all of them are battling trainers. Most people that aren't trainers don't have problems with training, so there isn't much to worry about in that field.
"I heard once that there was a group actively protesting Pokemon training in Unova, but eventually it was revealed that was just a cover up for their criminal activities, so I guess that doesn't really count... Um, there are a few people that want to pass a law that would give Pokemon a say when it comes to being captured, but I believe that these creatures could easily overpower us if they wanted to. It isn't too hard to dodge a return beam, a Pokemon could leave if they really wanted, so I don't think that's necessary... *Shrugs.*
"The common people usually don't pay too much attention to what laws are passed, to be honest... The International Police usually keep things under control, and people don't really argue with them. They've handle most threats, like the psychics a while back, they passed laws that keep them from misusing their powers against the common people."
Pidgeot: When did Ash/Blaze tell you about Pikachu's death? How did you take the news? Do any of his other Pokemon not at the Oak lab (namely Squirtle, Butterfree and Primeape) know about this?
Pidgeot: 'When I met back up with him. He was fleeing from Oak's lab and Fearow and his flock attacked him. I lead my flock against Fearow's and drove him off, and that's when Ash told me everything that had happened. The news was very hard to take, but I saw that Ash was taking it even worse than I was, so I decided to join him on his journeys once more to help him.
'I believe Squirtle knows, since he works with a police women. Primeape might have heard since he's with humans, but since Butterfree lives in the wild I don't think he knows.'
Ash: Does Ash treat Rotom like a Tamagotchi? My headcanon is that Rotom just wakes Ash up at random moments of the day, demanding food.
Ash: "... What on earth is a Tamagotchi...?"
JJ: I don't think they have Tamagotchi in the Pokemon world.
Rotom: [Hehe~ I do enjoy waking up Ash at random moments. :D It's funny when he's annoyed. But not when he's mad. Avoid him at all costs when he's mad.]
Ash: "Rotom doesn't eat food, he 'eats' electricity. He enjoys stealing the charge from my Poketch, which is very annoying. Do you know how hard it is to keep something charged when on the run? And that's without a ghost draining the battery too."
Rotom: [I'll wake him up when the battery is running low. Or start playing annoying music. The fun never ends! :D Speaking of which he needs to come pick me up, me and Porygon are starting to go crazy in here.]
Ash: Why don't you reveal any of your other pokemon in this story? Infernape for example.
Ash: "...I don't think they'd want to see me like this..."
JJ: Outside of his main team, the Pokemon Ash has had out multiple times are: Elgyem, Rotom, Sceptile, Gliscor, Zoroark, Leavanny, and Latias. And sometimes Gengar, but he reminds Ash of Sabrina. The reason he doesn't let out his other Pokemon that much was told by Sabrina in chapter twenty, by getting into Ash's mind she learns that Ash is afraid for his other Pokemon to see what he has become. He claims it's for them, but Ash has become a bit selfish over the last few years, and I think that facing his other Pokemon is a hurdle he doesn't want to handle.
Brock: So I have two questions for Brocko. One, what's your favorite color? And when did you start being so cool?
Brock: "Um... I like the color... aquamarine. Like Misty's eyes. And... cool? If you say so, I guess... Thank you? I guess 'when' it started depends on what trait of me you'd considered 'cool'..."
Brock: What makes you think Ash did this? How would you feel if he were innocent? Who is leading the Pewter Gym? Any luck with Lucy?
Brock: "What made me think he did it?! I saw him! He was standing over Misty's burnt body with that- that- monster of a Pokemon next to him, with blood on it! He couldn't be innocent, he was right there!" *Huffs angrily, trying to catch his breath.*
"...I haven't dated anyone since Misty." *Blinks away a few tears, shaking.*
May:Are you dating Drew? Do you still compete in contests?
Max: Do you have a full team of 6? Do you wish you could obtain a shiny Pokemon? Is Gardevoir very protective?
May: "A yes to both questions! I wish Drew would have come to the Master League, I miss him..."
Max: "No, my team has five Pokemon. I have Grovyle, Gardevoir, Snorlax (who use to be May's Munchlax), Mightyena, and a Banette. I will have a full team when my Charmander egg hatches though."
JJ: Note: In the last Q&A I answered who Max's team was, but I changed it slightly since, which is why I answered this question again. He now has a Banette.
Max: "A shiny Pokemon would be pretty cool! Maybe my Charmander will be shiny, though that's unlikely! And Gardevoir... She's more protective than May and my mother combined! Though May doesn't seem to care about me much lately..." *Turns away bitterly.*
JJ: Do you ship anyone in Pokemon?
JJ: I am a Pokeshipper and a Amourshipper, I can't decide on my favorite between the two! I like Fourthwheelshipping (BonnieXMax), for when they're older, of course. I also like Cavaliershipping (GaryxDawn). I like the idea of Marrsonshipping (AlainxMairin), but only when they are older.
In-game wise I love Ferriswheelshipping (NxWhite/Hilda/Touko or whatever you call her), this was my first Pokemon ship. I also like RedxLeaf/Blue(f)/Green(f) or whatever her name is. I named her Aoi in my other fanfic "The Path Anew" because I didn't want all the characters to be named after colors... (But Aoi means blue, so in a way she is still named after a color...)
I also ship PidgeotxLucario and RotomxPorygon, but those ships are limited to this story...
JJ: What inspired you to write this story?
JJ: I decided to write this story after reading an Ash betrayal fanfiction and I wanted to try one out myself. I wanted to give my story an original twist, and give Ash a more realistic reason for why people would turn against him, which is where the crime side of the story came from. Ash's emotional issues came when I realized that after going through all this someone wouldn't be stable.
JJ: How long are you estimating that this story will be? Will it reach its third birthday as a complete story?
JJ: I'll be honest, but I have no idea. I'd love to get it done within the next few months, but it just depends on how much time I have to write.
Scott: How did the frontier brains take Ash being found guilty? Please tell us all of their opinions. Does anyone *cough* Anabel *cough* believe in his innocence?
Scott: "I can't speak for all of them, but all of us were pretty shocked when we learned he was on trial. I mean, the kid was only fourteen at the time. After he ran away though that was the sign to most of us that he was guilty.
"Though nobody's said much, I suspect that a few of them of their doubts about Ash's accusers. Annabel would fall into that category, she never said anything against Ash."
Giovanni's Blaziken: How can you take innocent people's lives like that? Don't you have any remorse or regret about destroying their and all the people and Pokemon's they were tied to lives?
Blaziken: 'I will follow my trainer to the grave. He is all I know, I barely remember my life from before I was smuggled into Kanto from Hoenn. We have become the strongest together, and we only grow more with each other. I feel little for people and other Pokemon, only the strongest have success in this world, and they fall short. It is better to follow Giovanni than to go against him.'
Lucario: Are you only able to talk through aura or was Blaziken not able to understand Lucario speech?
Lucario: I have chosen not to speak of my own free will, I haven't spoken since I was a Riolu. The Blaziken could have understood me if I had spoken, but I didn't.
I only talk through aura, but the only ones that can hear me are Ash, because of his aura abilities; other Lucario, since they can use aura as well; and psychics, since they can naturally sense energy. For some reason Max can hear me too, but that might be because of his Gardevoir.
Sceptile: How did you feel when Charizard attacked Ash and was almost going to do that? Why didn't you try to protect him as from what I understand a Pokemon can easily out of his/her Pokeball? And can you draw blood like Serperior and the others? And what exactly is your standing among Ash's Pokemon?
Sceptile: 'Wait- Charizard attacked Ash?! And Charizard was almost going to do what?'
JJ: Sceptile's been in a Pokeball for a while...
Sceptile: 'No, not all Pokemon can exit a Pokeball at will... In fact we can't hear what's going on outside of the Pokeball unless it's expanded, which is how we hear orders before being released. In times of desperation a Pokemon can exit of their own, but it's rare and takes a lot of energy. Some Pokeballs have glitches though, and when that happens a Pokemon can exit on their own; like with Ash's Oshawott or Elgyem, or with Jessie's Wobbuffet. My Pokeball isn't like that though.
'No, I'm not combat trained. Only Ash's main team is. Though theoretically any Pokemon can spill blood if the situation is desperate enough, but I've never been pushed to that point. My standing... Like strength compared to the others? Not counting the ones trained for combat I'm one of the strongest, along with Infernape and Krookodile. Ash doesn't really use us that much, though I have come out of several occasions... I hope Ash is okay...'
JJ: Well, that's all for the Q&As! Thank you so much for the submissions, and enjoy this chapter!
"When will she wake up?" Max asked hesitantly, looking at the Gallade. The Gallade watched him with it's red eyes, and Max could hear a hum within the back of his mind, "I can't understand you without my Gardevoir," Max muttered, and the hum of the attempted telepathy faded away.
Max looked down at Sabrina, who was curled up on the ground, twitching in her sleep. The storm had died down some time ago, but with Sabrina fast asleep he had no idea of how to get back to the league, and besides, she still had his Pokemon with her. While Max had decided to believe what she had shown him about Ash, Max wasn't quite sure if he was ready to trust Sabrina. Ash had shown nothing but hatred and distrust towards her, and Sabrina had technically kidnapped Max, even if it was just to protect Ash.
Max shivered as his thoughts turned to Ash. Despite Sabrina telling him to try to sleep, Max hadn't been able to drift off like Sabrina had, so he had spent the entire stormy night alone with his thoughts and the glaring Gallade. While the fighting type didn't seem aggressive, his actions made it quite clear that he wasn't letting Max out of the cave without Sabrina, so Max had tried to ignore him while he tried to piece together the memories he had witnessed.
He was very careful when trying to view the memories that Sabrina had implanted within his mind, they were overwhelming and very vivid. He found it much easier just to think back on his dream when Sabrina had given him the memories, so he was simply remembering seeing them, rather than seeing the memory himself. There was three in total: Ash stranded in the mountains with no way out, Ash's Servine battling Officer Jenny, and... Misty's death.
Max flinched, quickly trying to block the image of his friend laying burnt on the ground, the Blaziken standing above her, and shivers ran up and down his arms. No wonder Ash couldn't even look at May's Blaziken, after witnessing all of that, then being practically abandoned... Max had only seen 'Blaze' a few times here at the league, but now all of his actions made much more sense now that Max knew the truth of who he was. But one question was still haunting Max's mind:
Now what?
Sabrina had told him simply to stay out of this, and to let her and Ash handle everything, but Max couldn't accept that. He knew the truth of what had happened. It was like an infection, he couldn't keep this to himself! People like May, the professor, and Brock, they needed to know this just as much as he did! They couldn't keep going on without knowing that Ash was innocent!
Ash was innocent... Those words hurt, they stung with the bitter feeling of guilt. They had done nothing, nothing while their friend was accused and blamed, while Ash suffered they had provided no support for him. They had left Ash, one of the most honorable people they knew, completely on his own to face a horrible fate.
Max felt his tears stinging his eyes, and he raised an arm to wipe them away. He shouldn't be crying right now, it did nothing and he was thirsty anyways, there was no need to cry away the little water he had. He glanced at Sabrina again, who was muttering in her sleep as if having a dream.
"Leave me alone..." She whispered, twitching, "You have no right to ask for my help..." She trailed off, mumbling quietly. Max slowly stood up, approaching his kidnapper. He glanced at Gallade, who was still guarding the exit of the small cave. Max nudged Sabrina's arm.
"H-hey," He said uncertainly, "Wake up," She turned over, but didn't awaken, "You said you'd take me back to the league in the morning, so please, wake up!" He said a bit louder, but still trying to keep his voice down a bit. Her eyelids fluttered, and he shook her gently once more. After a minute her eyes cracked open, and she blinked a few times, pushing herself into a sitting position. She wore a scowl on her face, and she rubbed her neck like it was sore.
"That stupid little thing," She muttered, "Why won't she get out of my mind..."
"Um..." Max shifted uncertainly, his mind in a tug-a-war with itself with whether he could trust this psychic or not. The International Police had only warned caution when approaching psychics, but Sabrina had gone on about how the International Police said false things about her kind.
Sabrina looked up at him, blinking a few times more, then she looked away, "Morning," She grunted, cobalt eyes hard. She seemed upset, though it didn't seem to be directed at him.
"Uh... hi," Max muttered back.
"You're ready to get out of here now," She said, as if reading his mind, and then Max realized that's what she was probably doing, "A deal's a deal. Just give me a moment, sleeping on a cave floor did not feel good on my back..." She slowly stretched, but couldn't stand up due to the low ceiling of the small cave.
"I want my Pokemon back," Max blurted out.
Sabrina picked up her discarded sun hat, setting it on her head, "When we get back to the league. Your Gardevoir would probably try to gut me if she saw me again, and you wouldn't want her to get hurt, would you? My Pokemon are just as protective, but much stronger than her."
"I wouldn't let her out..." Max went quiet, since Sabrina didn't seem to be listening to him. She just picked up her bag, crawling out of the cave and into the sunlight. Max followed her out into the muddy forest, her Gallade standing next to her like a guard. He was watching his trainer, but occasionally glancing back at Max, as if telling him not to run, but he wasn't about to go anywhere. Sabrina said she'd take him back, and even if Max didn't trust her personally, he still found himself believing her words, "What's... What's Ash been doing these last few years?" Max asked uncertainly, "Why is he at the league?"
Sabrina thought for a moment, "Ash has been jumping region to region trying to avoid being captured and simply trying to survive. I met up with him in Sinnoh, and he's been in your home region, Hoenn, for a little white until he came to the league. And he's here because..." She shook her head, "Because he's a stupid, blind, selfish idiot."
He had been in Hoenn, probably at the same time Max had been journeying. Max's stomach churned, he didn't know how he felt about that, "Um... since Ash is innocent," Those words felt so foreign on his tongue, and they tugged at the guilt in his heart, "That means he's still the same person I knew three years ago, not a monster, and I don't think selfish is the word to describe that Ash."
She snorted, "Looks like you're blind as well, so let me tell you this: Ash is not the same person you once knew. Yes, he's innocent; yes, he tried to protect everyone; but no, he's not the same. Ash has changed, and he is a very selfish person. Perhaps he doesn't enjoy that part of him, but in his mind he comes first. Did you know that he has dozens of Pokemon on him, he has only let out ten or so these last few years? He's afraid of his own Pokemon of seeing what he's become."
Max took this in with silence, "...How did you decide that you could trust him?" He asked quietly, jumping around a large puddle of mud to keep up with Sabrina.
"...I've always trusted Ash," Sabrina said quietly, "Years ago he saved me from my own mind... How could I not trust him after that?" She looked away, "...But like you, I saw his memories. I saw the truth," Her gaze hardened, "And because of that I'm going to protect him."
"Why does he seem... so hateful towards you then?" Max asked, thinking back, and Sabrina glared at him, "He hates me because I saw his memories," She replied, and Max shivered. He saw Ash's memories as well, so wouldn't that mean...? "Don't you worry, I forcefully gave his memories to you, I didn't give you a choice. Ash won't hate you for seeing them, he'll just be more mad at me."
"Doesn't hate me anyways?" Max snapped, "I didn't do anything to help him. I thought he was guilty!"
Sabrina came to a stop, "Here we are..." She muttered, "This looks familiar..." She pulled out a Pokeball, facing Max, "I'm going to be honest, I don't know what he thinks of you. I know the only people he truly hates though are the ones that hurt his friends, but that doesn't mean that he won't be bitter about anything else. My advice, let me explain to Ash what happened, and you stay quiet and out of the way."
"But I want to help!" Max cried.
"The only help you'll be is to not interfere. Ash is not stable Max, and neither are his Pokemon. Let me make this clear: Stay away from him," Sabrina growled, releasing her Alakazam, and she turned to face the Pokemon, "Do you think you can teleport us to the league from here?"
"Zam," He nodded.
Max watched Sabrina for a moment longer, as she recalled her Gallade and as the Alakazam prepared to use Teleport. He couldn't sit here and do nothing, not after everything he had learned. How could Sabrina expect him to just act like nothing had changed, this had changed everything!
He shivered as the bitterness of his guilt rushed through him once more. He couldn't handle this, he had admired Ash, but had turned against them at Brock's words without even considering Ash's side, he had allowed Brock to place doubts in his mind without even giving Ash a chance. Just thinking about it made him feel physically ill.
Max closed his eyes, one step at a time. He was heading back to the league, and after he got something in his stomach he could figure out what to do from there.
Waking up felt horrible.
It was as if Ash's consciousness was being slowly dragged to the surface of morning, like an iron weight had rooted itself into his stomach, pulling him back down into the sticky feeling of drowsiness. He had slept soundly, but Ash felt like he had gotten no rest. His heavy eyes blinked wearily, rejecting the harsh light filtering in through the window, and his dry lips smacked together, mouth lined with a foul taste.
Ash slowly pushed himself up to his elbows, arms tingling as blood rushed into them, and his back groaning as he sat up. He had fallen asleep in a chair, leaning forward onto a counter, leaving his entire body sore and stiff. He blinked a few times, and Ash's heart started racing as he tried to remember where he was. His hands went up, tugging his loose hood firmly over his head, gulping. He shifted uncertainly, shoulder flaring up in pain as moved it. He quickly recoiled, cradling the aching limb. Ash shivered, then slowly pulled back the short sleeve of his hoodie, looking at the bloody bandage beneath.
Charizard.
At first Ash didn't move, just sat there in silence as the events from yesterday swiftly played out in his mind. He went perfectly still as the scenes rushed through him, body too weary to respond as it struggled comprehended what had taken place. It was as if Ash didn't know how to react as he remembered, so instead he just sat there, quivering, tears stinging as they pricked his dry eyes.
Some part of him wanted to breakdown and start sobbing, but he didn't move. Crying did nothing but sap away time, and it had never helped. Nothing had helped him, not in years. Yesterday it had been the loneliness that had gotten to him, but today it was the hopelessness that began sinking in. No matter what he did he always ended up in pain, whether physical or emotional, and today was both. This was just a pointless struggle up an unclimbable mountain, only to fall back down to where he had started every time he fooled himself into believing progress could be made.
Ash took in a shaky breath, but something felt off. The horror of last night was still there, along side the overwhelming emotions, but... Ash felt calm. Not an 'all-is-well' calm, nor a reassuring calm, but he just didn't feel tense. For once his mind felt somewhat clear, able to organize his racing thoughts. Ash rubbed one of his wrists, chewing on the inside of his cheek as he looked around the room. Professor Oak's hotel greeted him, looking quite homely in the morning light, but only a sense of dread came over him. Ash knew he shouldn't be here, he shouldn't have allowed himself to be lead here. Last night he hadn't cared, but now... well, he still he didn't care, but-
"Sleep alright?" Ash jumped as Professor Oak's soft voice spoke. Ash slowly turned around, the professor was in the small sitting area, reading an old book. Samuel looked up from the yellowing pages, watching Ash with his gentle gaze.
"...I guess?" Ash replied quietly, shaking slightly. Professor Oak set the book on the lamp table, standing up.
"Let me get you something to eat," He offered, voice gentle like his gaze, but it only made Ash panic.
"...N-no... I'm fine...?" Ash muttered uncertainly, slowly sliding out of the chair, and Professor Oak suddenly frowned.
"Blaze... Y-your arm-" Professor Oak began, eyes going wide. Ash then realized that his sleeve was still rolled up, revealing his wounded shoulder. He quickly pulled down the sleeve to cover up the bandage, but Professor Oak had already seen it.
"It's fine!" Ash cried, hastily turning away.
"Fine?" Professor Oak muttered, "You're soaked in blood!" He carefully approached him, hesitating, and Ash pulled back, "Blaze... what happened?"
"...I... I fell down," This wasn't a complete lie, Charizard's blow had knocked him to the ground, "It's- I'm fine," Ash trembled.
Professor Oak shook his head is disbelief, "Were you bleeding this whole time? Why didn't you say something yesterday?" He placed a hand on 'Blaze's' other shoulder, making him flinch, "Can I look at it?" He asked, staring at his hood, as if trying to meet his eyes.
"No," Ash snapped, pulling away further and sinking back into his chair, "I said it's fine..."
Professor Oak sat next to him, still hesitating like he had yesterday, choosing each of his words with care, "Blaze, I'm well aware of this emotionally defensive act you put up. I know this isn't your true self, so don't bother trying to keep it up around me. I don't know why you're afraid to place trust in people, but I just want to help you. That wound clearly has not received any sort of treatment, please just let me see how bad it is, you're clearly in a lot of pain."
"That doesn't matter," Ash said hollowly, shaking, "...It doesn't even matter, I shouldn't even be here..."
Professor Oak didn't seem to know to reply, he just watched Ash with a sad look. He took in a deep breath, then reached for Ash's shoulder despite his earlier protests. He froze up as the professor's hand grazed his sleeve. Professor Oak paused, but when Ash didn't offer any more resistance he pulled the sleeve back, revealing the bloody bandage once more.
The cloth was so saturated with Ash's blood that it could no longer retain it, and small red drops rolled down his arm. He shivered, remembering the bloody sign outside the door he had seen within his dream. No, not dream... 'dreamscape', Azelf had called it...
Azelf...
Professor Oak touched the poorly wrapped bandage, drawning Ash out of his thoughts, "Did you bandage this up yourself?" He asked quietly, frowning.
"...No. My Serperior did," Ash muttered after a moment, and Professor Oak stood up.
"I'm going to rewrap it," Professor Oak said, voice firm so it gave no room for argument, "That bandage isn't doing you any good. I'll be right back," He headed down the hall, leaving Ash alone. Ash glanced at the front door, knowing that he could leave now with little effort.
"...Saur..."
Ash glanced back towards the hallway. Ivysaur was standing in the entryway, watching Ash with wide eyes. The grass type was pressed low to the ground, as if ready to sprint away at a moment's noticed. Ash blinked a few times as he watched the Pokemon warily enter the room, pressing against the walls. Ivysaur's eyes never left Ash as he inched across the room, stumbling back clumsily.
Ash didn't say anything to the grass type, only turned back around as he heard Professor Oak's footsteps as he returned. Out of the corner of his eye Ash saw Professor Oak set a few things down on the counter, before going into the small kitchen and soaking a cloth in water. After a minute he sat back into the chair next to Ash, watching him. Ash raised his head, and allowed him to undo the bandage that Serperior had put on him. He shivered as the now-red cloth was pulled away from the slashes, exposing his bloody arm to the cool air.
"Looks like it's mostly clotted over," Professor Oak muttered, but he couldn't clearly see the wound due to all the blood, "But still, that's a lot of blood..." He gently pressed the wet cloth against the shoulder, and Ash couldn't stop a wince. The professor paused for a second, before beginning to wipe away the drying blood. Silence clung to the air, and Ash looked away, feeling slightly queasy as a coppery scent filled the room. Ash noticed Ivysaur watching him still, pressed up against the edges of the couch, the flower on his back trembling, eyes filled with pure confusion.
"...Saur..." He muttered again, eyes flickering between Ash and Oak, as if something were about to happen.
Professor Oak lowered the cloth, now able to get a clear look at the shoulder wound. Three parallel slashes ran horizontally across Ash's shoulder. The cuts looked to be clean and not that deep, and barely any blood flowing from them now, but still the professor frowned.
"Blaze," Professor Oak began quietly, "This was not caused by a fall."
"..." Ash didn't respond- he didn't have any sort of reply.
"These were clearly caused by something with claws," Professor Oak studied the slashes for a moment, trying to identify the Pokemon that could have possibly made them. While the marks seemed somewhat familiar, nothing came to mind right away. The professor chewed his lip, then looked up into the dark void of Ash's hood, trying to meet his gaze.
"...It was a fall," Ash whispered, "...The force knocked me to the ground," He admitted after a moment.
"Were... you attacked?" The professor asked, but the only response he got was silence. Professor Oak stared at the boy he called Blaze, but could see nothing through the hood, "Blaze, these were clearly caused by some sort of Pokemon. Were you attacked?"
"It's fine..." Ash muttered uneasily, shivering as chills raced down his back, "I got it under control, it's all under control..." Ivysaur watched Ash for a moment, then looked away.
Professor Oak shook his head, then pressed a clean part of the cloth against the slashes again, and Ash recoiled at the harsh sting. The scent of chemicals filled the air as the professor continued tending to the slashes, setting down a bottle of medication to clean the wound. Professor Oak's thick eyebrows were knitted together in thought, and after a moment he spoke again.
"Blaze... Did one of your own Pokemon attack you?" He asked quietly.
Ash jumped back as the words left the professor's mouth, eyes going wide as the memories of yesterday washed over him again. He stumbled to his feet, backing away from Professor Oak warily. The professor stood up as well, holding out his hands in a calming manner, but with the bloody cloth in his hands it didn't quite have that effect.
"Look... I'm aware that your Pokemon are combat trained," Professor Oak hastily explained, but Ash was more alarmed, "I haven't reported it or anything, please calm down Blaze!"
"How?" Ash asked hoarsely.
"...By the way your Serperior acted and handled Ivysaur's combat attack. I... I also have a combat Pokemon under my care, legally though. I know how they act, and I also know how they act when they start to lose their bond with their trainers," Professor Oak hesitated again, "Blaze, did one of your own Pokemon attack you? If you have a combat Pokemon that's reached that point where they turn on their trainer it's very dangerous for both you and the Pokemon-"
"He's not dangerous!" Ash snarled suddenly, cutting him off.
"So one of them did attack you," The professor replied calmly.
"He didn't do anything! He didn't do anything!" Ash backed away further, heart thundering in his chest. Ivysaur watched him with narrowed eyes, "It was my fault, okay!? It was my fault he lashed out! I made him mad, I'm the one that pushed him when he was stressed! I said horrible things to him- I blamed him for everything!" Ash sank to the floor, shaking, "I did this to him," He whispered, "I was trying to protect him and instead I destroyed him... I turned him into this... I blamed him, just like everyone else... I'm just like everyone else..."
"Blaze-"
"I'm so sorry professor..." Ash whispered, rocking back and forth, "I tried, I tried everything, but I'm falling apart, I'm destroying my own Pokemon... I shouldn't have taken them with me, I shouldn't have..."
"Blaze, please hold still, you're making your wound worse-"
"Who cares!" Ash roared, "This is nothing! I've had worse, I've been put through worse!"
"Blaze, please calm down!" Professor Oak cried, stumbling over to Ash, "I'm going to help you, okay? Please, just calm down, everything's going to be-"
"No. Don't tell me it's going to be fine," Ash whispered, "Because that's a lie. That's the biggest lie I've ever told, and that I've ever been told. It's not going to be fine, because after hard times comes even more hard times. I know how life works, you get a few blissful moments that somehow is supposed to make up for every moment of pain you go through."
The professor just stared at him, seemingly at a lost for words.
"But hey, I don't get a choice, do I?" Ash muttered, "Last night I got all the information I need, I have no control over my life... Just a little shell that can be stuffed with willpower and forced to keep moving... I'll play along, there's not much else I can do anyways..."
"Blaze, please stand up and let me finish wrapping up your shoulder," Professor Oak said quietly. Ash looked up at him for a moment, then turned away. He made eye contact with Ivysaur, who stiffened as Ash faced his direction. The Pokemon's red eyes studied Ash, lower jaw twitching in thought. Finally Ash pushed himself to his feet, allowing Professor Oak to guide him back to the chair, there wasn't much else he could do.
Professor Oak hesitated once more, "Normally I would say that you should get a doctor to look at this-"
"No," Ash whispered fiercely.
Professor Oak sighed, "That's what I thought. Since it was one of your own Pokemon, you would be putting them at risk if you went in... But still, this isn't a simple scratch. I'm going to ask you to let me check this periodically, alright? I'm not a doctor, but I do have some experience in the medical field, and I don't want this to get worse or infected. You seem to be healing just fine, but a wound like this could probably end up needing stitches..."
Ash snorted, "I've had worse," He muttered as Professor Oak pulled out a clean bandage to properly bind up his shoulder with, "I've been shot in the leg with a bullet, poisoned and left to suffer. Trapped in the mountains with nothing but hope that the winter would claim me," Ash shifted, "...I'll be just fine, even if I don't want to be."
The professor watched him for a moment, hesitating like he always did with 'Blaze', "...Perhaps it would be best if... Well, if you, um... If you weren't alone for the next little while," Professor Oak began uncertainly, "...You're clearly not in a stable state, and I think it would be best if there was someone with you-"
"I get it," Ash muttered as Professor Oak finished wrapping the shoulder, "You don't trust me to be on my own after last night. Do what you want, this wouldn't be the first time..." Ash trailed off, and the professor gave him a questioning glance. Ash sighed, turning away, "...Last night wasn't the first time something like this has happened," Ash trembled, "Two years ago I- I tried to-" Ash shuddered as he thought back on Lake Valor, and he couldn't bring himself to finish, "...Someone stopped me, and Sabrina wouldn't leave me alone..." Ash drew back, and tears pricked his eyes, "I just felt so trapped and helpless and-"
"Blaze, don't force yourself to think about something you don't want to," Professor Oak said evenly, "Just... Just use these next few days to calm and find yourself. I'll be here to support you, not to control you."
Ash looked away, "Professor?"
"Yes?"
"...Thank you. For everything," Ash said quietly. The professor watched him for a moment longer, then simply nodded, but his eyes were lost in thought.
Not too much action-wise this chapter, but I still think this was an important chapter.
So guys, sorry it took so long to update this chapter... I'm right in the middle of finals right now. I don't know when the next update will be, but hopefully sooner than this one was.
Well guys, today was the last of the Q&A... Thank you so much guys for all of the questions! As of next chapter I'll go back to replying to the guest reviews at the beginning of the chapter!